drift
noun
have been drifting
-
present perfect progressiveof drift.present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dividend coverage ratios, or the ratio of net investment income to total dividends, have been drifting downward.
From Barron's ● Apr. 7, 2026
The boat's occupants have been drifting at sea for more than 10 days and have run out of water, food, and fuel.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2025
The cause, of course, is a smoggy blanket of fumes from wildfires in Canada that have been drifting south, muting the sun and tinting the sky a foreboding apricot hue.
From Salon ● Jun. 8, 2023
Retail sales have been drifting lower since last summer.
From New York Times ● Jun. 8, 2022
Mr. Dursley might have been drifting into an uneasy sleep, but the cat on the wall outside was showing no sign of sleepiness.
From "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling
